Salem College vs. PennWest California

Should I go to Salem College or PennWest California? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Salem College or PennWest California is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Salem College vs. PennWest California comparison
Salem College PennWest California College 3 College 4
Salem College PennWest California
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Overview

Salem College PennWest California
Location Winston Salem, NC California, PA
Setting Midsize City Town Fringe
Enrollment 469 6,509
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1033
Religious Affiliation Moravian Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salem.edu calu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem College PennWest California
Tuition (In State) $30,500 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $30,500 $11,574
Room & Board $12,300 $10,416
Avg Net Price $18,354 -
Avg Grant Aid $30,048 $0
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 0%

Admission

Salem College PennWest California
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,159 -
Admitted 1,014 -
Acceptance Rate 87.5%
Enrolled % 9%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/21 18/24
SAT Range 1053/1200 940/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

Salem College PennWest California
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

Outcomes

Salem College PennWest California
Graduation Rate 53% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,000 $42,500
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $258

Diversity

Salem College PennWest California
% Men 3% 39%
% Women 97% 61%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 77%
% Black 22% 12%
% Hispanic 12% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

Salem College PennWest California
% In-State 78% 86%
% Out-of-State 22% 13%

Campus

Salem College PennWest California
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than Salem College based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 469 students)

Salem College vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem College or PennWest California?

  • Salem College is 295.3% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($30,500.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 163.5% higher at Salem College than PennWest California ($30,500.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 18.1% lower than costs at Salem College ($10,416 vs. $12,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem College than PennWest California (100% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($30,048 vs. $0)

Which college is harder to get into, Salem College or PennWest California? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PennWest California or Salem College .

  • The average SAT score at Salem College (1119) is 197 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming Salem College students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at PennWest California (20)
  • Accepted freshman PennWest California students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Salem College (3.3)

Salem College vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem College or PennWest California? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between PennWest California and Salem College.

  • The graduation rate at Salem College is the same as at PennWest California (53% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $7,500 more per year than Salem College graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $35,000)
  • PennWest California students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • PennWest California graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Salem College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/